From all indications, it looks like this could be a banner year for the 2018 United Way Campaign.
During the kickoff breakfast Tuesday morning at Arborwood, United Way announced it had raised $111,168 from its Pacesetter campaign which involved just three agencies — Donaldson, Center Township of Clinton County and The Farmers Bank.
“I’m so proud of the Pacesetters — the three organizations that got us off to a great start,” said 2018 Campaign Chair Karen Gregerson. “That’s 25 percent of our goal.”
The overall campaign goal this year is $455,000. According to a flyer that was placed on every table at the kickoff breakfast, “today’s United Way is bringing people, organizations and communities together around a common cause, a common vision and a common path forward. We’re building up the cornerstones of education, financial stability and health.
“All of us are just one unfortunate incident away from needing help,” said Gregerson. “We’re trying to break the cycle of poverty.”
Gregerson added one of the things they are trying to get across is that United Way is not just a pass through organization.
“We’re actually an organization that identifies the needs of the community and goes after programs that support those needs,” said Gregerson.
The community partners which United Way helps are: American Red Cross, Camp Cullom, Clinton County Boy Scouts of America, Clinton County Boys & Girls Club, Clinton County Girl Scouts, COACH Kids, Family Literacy, Food Finders Food Ban, Learning Ladder Childcare — Clinton County Family YMCA, Open Door Health Clinic, Paul Phillippe Resource Center, Quinton’s House, The ARC of Clinton County and The Salvation Army.
“We have great community partners that really care for the well-being of our community,” said United Way Executive Director Carolina Booth. “They’re seeing the role of United Way and they’re seeing our change. We’re going beyond fund raising and we’re really finding partners who can tackle issues in our community.”
Booth was asked how it feel for the agency to meet or exceed its goal this year.
“The impact is about the community,” said Booth. “There will be many lives that we will be able to impact. There will be kids that will be able to get a good start. We will be changing the odds of some people in the community who have a rough time. I think it will be a great impact for the community if we meet our goal, or even better, if we exceed our goal.”